Interactive information display

ABSTRACT

A method, system and computer readable medium are capable of identifying information to display. The method includes identifying a location of a display device. The method includes identifying, in response to a user input, places within a predetermined distance of the location of the display device. The method includes identifying current information about items or services available at the identified places. The method includes displaying, on the display device, the current information about the items or services available at the identified places within the predetermined distance of the display device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/679,325 filed Nov. 16, 2012, which will issue as U.S. Pat.No. 9,161,174 on Oct. 13, 2015. U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/679,325 claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/561,799 filed Nov. 18, 2011 entitled“INTERACTIVE INTERFACE FOR A TOUCH SCREEN”. The contents of both ofthese patent documents are hereby incorporated by reference into thepresent application as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to the display of information.More specifically, the present disclosure relates to determininginformation to display in a travel environment to assist travelers andrelated systems and methods.

BACKGROUND

Traveling can be difficult and, at times, stressful. Often travelers arein unfamiliar environments and may not know how to get where they needto go or obtain things they need. Travel itineraries often have strictschedules with penalties of time or monetary expense for not meeting theschedule demands.

Printed signs can provide useful sources of information for travelers.However, printed signs are often contain out-of-date information almostas soon as they are printed and hung.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems and methods to assisttravelers in traveler environments. Additionally, there is a need forimproved systems and methods to identify information to display.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides methods, systems and computer readable mediafor identifying information to display to travelers in a travelenvironment.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systemsand computer readable media for identifying information to display. Inone embodiment, a method includes identifying a location of a displaydevice. The method includes identifying, in response to a user input,places within a predetermined distance of the location of the displaydevice. The method includes identifying current information about itemsor services available at the identified places. The method includesdisplaying, on the display device, the current information about theitems or services available at the identified places within thepredetermined distance of the display device.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example networked system of computing devices inwhich various systems and methods described below can be implemented;

FIG. 2 illustrates an architecture of an example information interfacesystem in accordance with one embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a logical diagram of exemplary information menuscreens that may be displayed in accordance with various embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a display of information provided in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a travel information screen displayedin accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an example food and beverage informationdisplay in accordance with various embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 7A-C illustrate examples of information from a digital ambassadormodule formatted for display on a mobile personal electronic device inaccordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example process for identifying information todisplay in accordance with various embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example process for displaying status informationin accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 illustrates an example computing system capable of implementingvarious embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various figures and embodiments used to describe the principles ofthe present invention in this patent document are by way of illustrationonly and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of theinvention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principlesof the invention may be implemented in any type of suitably-arrangeddevice or system.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure recognize that receivinginformation can make traveling experiences more efficient, moresuccessful, and even more enjoyable for the traveler. Embodiments of thepresent disclosure identify and present information to users in a usefuland intuitive manner in travel environments to assist the traveler withthe efficiency and enjoyment of their travel experience. Embodiments ofthe present disclosure utilize display devices that can be updated tocontain accurate up-to-date information to assist the traveler with theefficiency and enjoyment of their travel experience.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example networked system 100 of computing devicesin which various systems and methods described below can be implemented.As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 includes a network 102, which is themedium used to provide communication links between various computers andother devices. The network 102 may include any suitable connections,such as wired, wireless, or fiber optic links. In some embodiments, thenetwork 102 represents at least a portion of the Internet and caninclude a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that use theTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol suite of protocols tocommunicate with one another, although any other public and/or privatenetwork(s) could be used in the system 100.

In this example, server computers 104-106 connect to the network 102,along with a storage unit 108. In addition, client devices 110-114connect to the network 102. The client devices 110-114 may be, forexample, display terminals, personal computers, network computers,personal digital assistants, mobile smartphones, or mobile computingdevices. The client devices 110-114 are clients to the server computers104-106 in this example. The system 100 may include additional servercomputers, client devices, or other devices.

In some embodiments, the system 100 is an interactive informationdistribution system present in a travel environment. For example, thesystem 100 may provide travelers with travel, retail, and/or serviceinformation in the travel environment. In this example, at least onetouch screen display terminal or kiosk (e.g. client device 110) islocated in a travel environment (e.g., airport, train station, rentalcar facility, or bus station). The display terminal displaystravel-related information to users. Additionally, the display terminalis a touch screen device that users can interact with. For example,responsive to a user input, the display terminal may provide informationregarding maps, directions, flight connections, flight gates andterminals, passenger lounges, bathrooms, restaurants, shops, services,weather, or traffic to a user. A user may select one or more options byproviding one or more touch inputs to the screen.

The information may be stored locally in the display terminal.Additionally, the display terminal may access the information fromservers and databases (e.g., server computers 104-106 and storage unit108) via network 102. The servers and databases may be part of a localarea network. For example, an airport may have databases that storeflight and restaurant information. The display terminal may access theinformation from the databases in the local area network. In otherexamples, the display terminal may access information (e.g., weather andtraffic information) from servers in remote locations via network 102.

Additionally, the information that is available to the user via adisplay terminal or kiosk can be presented to the user via a personalcomputing device (e.g., client devices 112-114). The client device mayhave a special application that is downloaded from a server. Theapplication may connect the client device to receive the travelinformation when located in the travel environment. In other examples,the client device may access the travel information via a webapplication, a browser, or any other suitable manner.

Of course, the system 100 may be implemented using a number of differenttypes of networks, such as an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or awide area network (WAN). FIG. 1 is intended as an example and not as anarchitectural limitation for the different embodiments described below.Each of the computing devices includes any suitable structure forperforming the described functions. Each computing device could, forexample, include one or more processing units, one or more memory unitsstoring instructions and data used, generated, or collected by theprocessing unit(s), and one or more interfaces for communicating overthe network 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates an architecture of an example information interfacesystem 200 in accordance with one embodiment of this disclosure. Theinformation interface system 200 accesses and displays information toone or more users in a travel environment. The information interfacesystem 200 includes a terminal interface module 205 and a mobileinterface module 210. The kiosk interface module 205 accesses anddisplays information via a display device (e.g., client device 110 or astationary display kiosk located in a travel terminal) to one or moreusers. For example, when the kiosk interface module 205 is not presentlybeing used, a persistent display module 215 may access general travelinformation for display. Additionally, the persistent display module 215may change a location of images to prevent images from being burned intothe display device.

The location module 220 provides information regarding a user'slocation. For example, the location module 220 may identify a locationof the display terminal or a mobile device of the user. In order totrack the location of the user, the mobile interface module 210 maydisplay a request for permission of the user for the location module 220to access or track the location of the user's device. The location andtracking may be performed by a GPS signal or by cell service providerlocalization or multilateration. The user may be provided withincentives to allow location tracking, such as improved serviceabilities or discounts for travel or shops. The location module 220 mayassist in providing services to the user. For example, the locationmodule 220 accesses information about restaurants or shops that arelocated in proximity to a user. As a particular example, a user mayinput via the kiosk interface module 205 information regarding an amountof time the user has to spend before a departure. The location module220 accesses information about restaurants or shops that the user may beable to visit during that amount of time.

In some embodiments, the location module 220 may assist or guide theuser to arrive at a desired destination. For example, the user mayspecify through the kiosk interface module 205 or the mobile interfacemodule 210 a desired destination location (e.g., a travel gate, aninter-terminal connection point, a shop, baggage claim, security checkpoint, etc.). The location module 220 can, based on the user's currentlocation, provide the user with directions and recommended routes totake to arrive at the desired destination. Further, the location module220 may periodically provide status information as to how the user isprogressing on the route to the desired location. For example, themobile interface module 210 may display route and status information onthe user's mobile device. In another example, the location module 220 isapproaching and within a viewable distance of a stationary displaydevice located in the terminal. In this situation, a kiosk interfacemodule 205 for that stationary display device may display route and orstatus information (e.g., estimated time remaining, a positiveindication that the user is traveling in the correct direction, theroute the user should take, directions for the user to take, etc.).

An airport information module 230 accesses and provides informationabout an airport. For example, the airport information module 230 mayprovide information regarding airport maps, bathrooms, passengerlounges, flight terminals, gates, times, and connections. The airportinformation module 230 may provide this information in response toreceiving a request for the information via a touch screen of a displaydevice. In this illustrative embodiment, the airport information module230 can also access and provide information about baggage claimlocations and a present status of baggage delivery from a trip. Notethat information about other travel environments (such as trainstations, rental car facilities, or bus stations) could also bepresented.

A third party application interface 235 accesses and providesinformation from third party providers. For example, the third partyapplication interface 235 can provide information from outside of theairport or other travel locations. The third party application interface235 may provide information regarding weather, travel contentions, andtraffic outside of the airport or travel location. The third partyapplication interface 235 may also provide information regardingequipment rentals or vehicle rentals from third party vendors.

As previously discussed, information that is accessible and displayablevia the kiosk interface module 205 may be accessed and displayed usingthe mobile interface module 210 on a personal electronic device (e.g.,client devices 112 and 114). The mobile interface module 210 can adaptcontent for display on a user's personal electronic device. In someembodiments, a mobile authentication module 245 authenticates the userdevice to the information interface system 200. For example, the mobileinterface module 210 may detect that the user device has entered anairport or travel location. As another example, the mobile interfacemodule 210 or the kiosk interface module 205 may detect that the userdevice is within proximity of a display terminal at an airport or travellocation. In an example embodiment, the mobile authentication module 245may present an interface for the user to authenticate to the informationinterface system 200. In another example embodiment, the mobileauthentication module 245 may connect to the information interfacesystem 200 via a user's profile information that is stored on the userdevice or via a user identifier registered with the informationinterface system 200.

In this illustrative embodiment, the information interface system 200includes a digital ambassador module 240. The digital ambassador module240 accesses and provides information to assist a user in travel. Thedigital ambassador module 240 may be implemented in a downloadablesoftware application for a user's mobile device, accessible via awebsite by the user's mobile device or a stationary display kiosk in atravel terminal, and/or an application for a stationary display kiosk ina travel terminal. The digital ambassador module 240 may retrieveinformation from the location module 220, the airport information module230, and/or the third party application interface 235 for display on thekiosk interface module 205 and/or the mobile interface module 210.

In various embodiments, the digital ambassador module 240 may retrieve auser profile that includes information about user preferences for shops,types of food, restaurants, frequently used travel providers or travelroutes, etc. The digital ambassador module 240 may also retrieveinformation about a user's travel plans and itinerary. For example, thetravel plans and itinerary information may be retrieved from a userprofile, travel reservation information, or a code on a ticket scannedby the user's mobile device (e.g., a scanned bar code or quick response(QR) code, etc.).

Based on the information retrieved, the digital ambassador module 240may interact with the location module 220, the airport informationmodule 230, and/or the third party application interface 235 to providerecommendations to a user. For example, the digital ambassador module240 may recommend a restaurant from the user's profile information thatthe user enjoys and has enough time to visit. In another example, thedigital ambassador module 240 may determine that the user does not haveenough time to travel to a shop or restaurant and may order items orservices to be brought to a convenient location for the user. Forexample, the user may request through the digital ambassador module 240that the ordered item be delivered to their location at time of ordering(e.g., the location of the user's mobile device or the location of thestationary display kiosk where the user is ordering from), a future userspecified location, a user favorite location from the user's profile,the location of the user at time of delivery (e.g., allow the deliveryagent access to track the user's current location and heading directionto provide the item at a dynamic delivery location, or the traveldeparture location (e.g., travel gate)). In some embodiments, a user maybe able to pay for such goods and services using the digital ambassadormodule 240.

In these illustrative embodiments, the information interface system 200retrieves and provides current, up-to-date information to assist peoplein travel environments. For example, the information interface system200 may maintain a database of vendors and current, up-to-dateinformation regarding location, specials, services provided, wait timesfor services for food service or delivery, etc. The informationinterface system 200 displays the current, up-to-date information. Forexample, the information displayed to persons in the travel environmentmay be the most current, most up to date information for concessions,flights, promotions, etc. The information interface system 200 alsoprovides current, up-to-date traffic, weather, and travel scheduleinformation. For example, the information interface system 200 may sendnotification messages to a user's mobile devices regarding traffic,weather, or travel schedule updates. This feature may be accessible viaan “opt-in” option provided in the mobile interface module 210. Innon-limiting examples, the information interface system 200 may identifya user's travel schedule, current location, and traffic or constructioninformation to provide notifications and recommendations, such as, forexample, recommendations on traffic directions, notification ofconstruction zones, location, availability, and discounts for valetservices, projected wait times for security lines, recommendations onsecurity gates with quicker projected wait times, etc., if the user isdetermined to be running behind schedule or could face difficultyarriving to their travel gate.

The information provided by the information interface system 200 may bepresented in multiple different languages to assist travelers speakingdifferent languages. In some embodiments, the information interfacesystem 200 may provide (e.g., via airport information module 230) aninterface for international travelers to fill out and prepare travelerforms, such as, for example, immigration or declaration forms. Theinformation interface system 200 may receive information from thepassenger via a scanning device to assist in and/or automate the processof preparing traveler forms. For example, the information interfacesystem 200 may include a barcode scanner, a fingerprint scanner, anoptical scanner in connection with a character recognition program(e.g., for obtaining information from passports and other travel oridentification documents). The information interface system 200 mayallow the user to submit their forms directly to the appropriateauthority or may provide a printer to print the appropriate forms forthe user to provide to the appropriate authority.

The illustration of the information interface system 200 in FIG. 2 isnot meant to imply physical or architectural limitations to the mannerin which different illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Othercomponents in addition to and/or in place of the ones illustrated may beused. Some components may be unnecessary in particular illustrativeembodiments. Also, the blocks are presented to illustrate somefunctional components. One or more of these blocks may be combinedand/or divided into different blocks when implemented in differentillustrative embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a logical diagram of exemplary information menuscreens 300 that may be displayed in the information interface system200 in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.For example, the menu screens 300 may be displayed in kiosk interfacemodule 205 or the mobile interface module 210 in FIG. 2. In thisillustrative example, the menu screens 300 include an idle menu screen305 which may be selected to avoid images from being “burned in” to thescreen if the image appears in the same place for too long and/or mayinclude images to draw the attention of nearby persons and encourageinteraction by providing a brief demonstration or tutorial offunctionality. For example, while the screen is not in use, differentimages may be displayed providing feature descriptions, usage examples,or maps of terminal information. The idle menu screen 305 may alsoinclude a display of invitations to make use of the features of theinformation interface system 200.

The terminals menu screen 310 provides proportionally accurate,annotated, and interactive maps of traveling terminals. The maps areoriented toward the user's point of view based on the location of theuser. For example, the information interface system 200 may identify thelocation of the display device (e.g., stationary terminal or mobile userdevice) and present a “You Are Here” indicator that shows the directionthe user is facing. The terminals menu screen 310 may also providedisplays of visual paths to gates in the current terminal, how to get toother terminals (including alternate routes if, for example, primaryterminal transportation is disabled), directions to baggage claim areas,security offices, restrooms, custom artwork, different types oftransportation, and information about parking options.

The shops and services menu screen 315 provides the ability to browselistings of available concessions areas, including restaurants, bookstores, newsstands, electronics stores, vending machines, coffee shops,etc. In addition to browsing by business name, the shops and servicesmenu screen 315 may be categorized one or more ways to allow fordifferent kinds of browsing. For example, a user might choose to lookfor “sit down” restaurants as opposed to “fast food” restaurants orchoose between experiences based on amount of available time, such as “Ihave 30 minutes” vs. “I have more than an hour.” The shops and servicesmenu screen 315 may, for individual shops, include a logo, a storefrontphoto and/or some form of discount offer that can change from time totime. The shops and services menu screen 315 may also provideadvertisements and specials for different shops and services.

The shops and services menu screen 315 also provides the ability tobrowse available specialty services, including places to chargeelectronic devices, automated teller machines (ATMs), shipping services,drop boxes, on-site hotels, etc. Some services can also be shops, andvice versa. In addition to browsing by business name, the shops andservices menu screen 315 may also categorize services one or more waysto allow for different kinds of browsing.

The “within 5 minutes of here” menu screen 320 provides users with aquick view of necessities, shops, and services within a five minute walkfrom the user's current location (e.g., the location of a stationarydisplay device or location determined based on the user's tracked mobiledevice). This “within 5 minutes of here” menu screen 320 allows users tonarrow down by type, such as restaurant, coffee shop, restrooms, etc.,and activities capable of being performed without having to travel faror take a long time to access. Additionally, categorizations offiltering shops, services, and amenities may include categorizing byuser feeling such as if the traveler is feeling “hungry,” “rushed,”“bored,” etc.

The travel information menu screen 325 provides users the ability toaccess resources for a specific travel provided, such as an airline,train, bus, or car travel provided. For example, travel information menuscreen 325 may provide detailed information, such as arrival anddeparture schedules and gates, the directions to travel provider waitareas (e.g., an admirals club and similar offers from other airlines),or a phone number to call, page a representative of the travel provider,or general customer service information.

The menu screens 300 may also provide weather information includingcurrent, local weather information. Any and all of the menu screens 300may be embodied in a stationary application, such as a stationarydisplay kiosk, or a mobile application, such as a smart phone or othermobile personal electronic device. In embodiments of a stationaryapplication, the information interface system 200 may providefunctionally to communicate information from the stationary displaykiosk to a user's mobile device (e.g., via a “take this with you”function within the menu screens 300. For example, the information froma stationary display kiosk may be communicated to a user's mobile devicevia near field communication, WiFi, Bluetooth™ email message, and/ortext message. For example, the information may be sent to the mobileinterface module 210 on the user's mobile device, placed in an email ortext message, and/or provided at a website accessible by a browser ofthe user's mobile device with the browser address (e.g., uniformresource locator (URL)) sent to the user's mobile device or displayed onthe stationary display kiosk.

FIG. 4 illustrates a display 400 of information provided in accordancewith various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this illustrativeembodiment, display 400 is a food and beverage information display thatmay be displayed, for example, upon selection of the shops and servicesmenu screen 315 in FIG. 3. For example, a user may have selected thefood and beverage icon 405 on the display 400. The display 400 alsodisplays a terminal map 410 with gate information and an indicator 415of the user's location (e.g., a “you are here” indicator).

The display 400 provides a list 420 of food and beverage providers. Thelist 420 may be filtered based on location, for example, of thoselocated in the airport, the terminal, or within a predefined walkingdistance of the user's location (e.g., five minutes accessible via the“within a 5-minute walk” icon 425 on display 400). The user may scrollamong providers in the list 420 and select icons to find detailedinformation about the provider. For example, the display 400 may displaydetailed information 430 including the location 435 about a recommendedor selected provider from the list 420. The user can request otherinformation to be displayed using, for example, the shops icon 440, theservices and amenities icon 445, the terminal facilities icon 450, theairlines icon 455, or the menu icon 460. The menu icon 460 allows a userto navigate between travel terminals.

The display 400 also includes an accessible navigation icon 465 toassist travelers that have special needs. For example, pressing theaccessible navigation icon 465 may cause the content displayed on thedisplay 400 to be lowered for a person in a wheelchair to easily accessthe functionality of the kiosk.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example a travel information screen 500 displayedin accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. Thetravel information screen 500 is an example of a screen that may bedisplayed via the travel information menu screen 325 in FIG. 3. In thisillustrative example, the travel information screen 500 provides adisplay of baggage claim information. This display may be presented bykiosk interface module 205 on a stationary display device or by mobileinterface module 210 on a mobile device.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an example food and beverage informationdisplay in accordance with various embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In this illustrative example, selection of one of the icons600 for a food and beverage provider from the display in FIG. 6A resultsin detailed information 605 about the food and beverage provider, andmay include a map of locations 610, items served, pricing,advertisements, coupons, and the ability to purchase and have itemsdelivered.

As discussed herein, any and all of the information displayable on thestationary display kiosk may be formatted for display and displayed on amobile device, such as a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, etc. Thisinformation may be presented via a web browser or by a mobileapplication. For example, FIGS. 7A-C illustrate examples of informationfrom digital ambassador module 240 formatted for display on mobilepersonal electronic devices in accordance with various embodiments ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 7A illustrates information for the digitalambassador module 240 displayed on mobile device 700 via a webapplication. FIG. 7B illustrates a home screen for the digitalambassador module 240 displayed on mobile device 705 via a nativeapplication for the mobile device 705, such as, an application or “app”downloadable from an application store. FIG. 7C illustrates an examplefood and beverage information display for the digital ambassador module240 displayed on mobile device 705 via the native application for themobile device 705. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A-C, the same or similarinformation displayable on a stationary display kiosk such as thedisplay 400 in FIG. 4 including the functionality for the icons 405,425, and 440-460 may be accessible to users via their personal mobiledevice.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example process for identifying information todisplay in accordance with various embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The process can be performed, for example, by one or more ofthe server or client devices 104-114 in FIG. 1. The process can beimplemented by executable instructions stored in a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium that cause one or more devices to perform sucha process.

The process begins by identifying a location of a display device (step805). For example, in step 805, the process may identify the location toprovide location-based services and information. The display device maybe a stationary display, such as a terminal kiosk; or a mobile display,such as a display for mobile device. The process may first, if thedisplay device is for a user's mobile device, request permission totrack and/or obtain the user's location.

The process then determines whether a user input is received (step 810).For example, in step 810, the process may recognize a user input toidentify services and amenities available to the user. If a user inputis received, the process identifies places within a predetermineddistance (step 815). For example in step 815, the process may identifylocations of available services and amenities located within a travelenvironment, such as an airport. In some embodiments, the input may bean input to request information about locations the user can visitwithin a predetermined period of time, (e.g. “within five minutes”). Forexample, the predetermined distance may be an estimated distance that aperson can walk to within the predetermined period of time.

Thereafter, the process identifies current information about items orservices available from the identified places (step 820). For example,in step 820, the process may query a database to determine current,up-to-date information about services offered and items available withinthe travel environment. The process then displays the currentinformation (step 825).

Thereafter, the process determines whether a request to order an item isreceived (step 830). For example, in step 830, the user may provideinputs to order an item from a place associated with the currentinformation displayed on the display device. If a request to order theitem is received, the process then processes information for a purchasetransaction (step 835). For example, in step 835, the process mayreceive from the user or from user profile information, such as paymentinformation, needed to complete the purchase transaction. In variousembodiments, the payment processing and/or order entry may be managed bya third-party service, such as a vendor and/or payment processingsystem. For example, a web application for a third-party may be launchedfrom the display device to allow the user to complete ordering of theitem and/or entry of payment information. In these embodiments, steps830 and 835 may simply involve identifying that the user desires toplace an order, launching a third-party web application, and providingan interface for the user to send information to the third-partyservice.

The process then identifies a delivery destination for the item (step840). For example, in step 840, the process may receive a user input onthe desired delivery destination or identify the delivery destinationbased on the user's current location, heading direction, a gateassociated with the user's travel itinerary, or stored profileinformation. For example, the delivery destination may be the locationof the display device where the item was ordered, a dynamic location ofa mobile device of a purchaser of the item at a time of delivery basedon current user tracking information, and/or a travel gate.

While steps 830 to 840 describe an example process for ordering an itemusing a display device in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the display device of the present disclosure may be utilizedto provide other services to a user. For example, in variousembodiments, the display device may allow the user to track informationabout a flight or register for notifications to be sent to a user'smobile device.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example process for displaying status informationin accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. Theprocess can be performed, for example, by one or more server or clientdevices 104-114 in FIG. 1. The process can be implemented by executableinstructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium thatcause one or more devices to perform such a process.

The process begins by identifying a mobile device of a user entering anarea (step 905). For example, in step 905, the process may identify themobile device entering or nearing an airport or an area near astationary display kiosk. The process then sends a request to track thelocation of a mobile device of the user (step 910). Thereafter, theprocess determines whether the request to track the mobile devicelocation is granted (step 915).

If the request to track is granted, the process identifies a currentlocation of the user (step 920). For example, in step 920, the processmay identify and track the location of the user's mobile device using aGPS signal or by cell service provider localization or multilateration.

The process then identifies a desired destination location of the user(step 925). For example, in step 925, the process may identify thedesired destination location from a user profile, travel reservationinformation, a code on a ticket scanned by the user's mobile device, ora user input of the desired destination location.

Thereafter, the process determines whether the user is within a viewabledistance of a display device (step 930). For example, in step 930, theprocess may determine based on the location and/or heading of the mobiledevice in proximity to a known location and facing direction of adisplay device.

If the user is within a viewable distance of the display device, theprocess displays status information about the progress of the user (step935). For example in step 935, the process may provide information onthe route or directions to the desired destination location and theuser's current progress towards the desired destination location. Thisinformation may be displayed on the user's mobile device or a stationarydisplay kiosk determined to be in proximity to the user's vantage point.The displayed status information may include directions to a desireddestination location, an estimated amount of time for the user to arriveat the desired destination location, and an indication of whether theuser is headed in a correct direction to reach the desired destinationlocation. The process may continue to periodically track, monitor, andprovide a display of status information to the user throughout theuser's route to reach the desired destination location.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example computing system 1000 in accordance withthis disclosure. The computing system 1000 could, for example, representan implementation of the client devices 110-114 or server computers104-106. For example, the computing system 1000 may be implemented in amobile user device, a stationary display kiosk, or a server computerproviding information for display on the mobile user device or thestationary display kiosk.

In this example, the computing system 1000 includes a bus system 1002,which provides communications between a processor 1004, a memory 1006, apersistent storage 1008, a communications unit 1010, an input/output(I/O) unit 1012, and a display 1014. The processor 1004 processesinstructions for software that may be loaded into the memory 1006. Theprocessor 1004 may include a number of processors, a multi-processorcore, or some other type of processor, depending on the particularimplementation. Further, the processor 1004 may be implemented using anumber of heterogeneous processor systems in which a main processor ispresent with secondary processors on a single chip. As another example,the processor 1004 may be a symmetric multi-processor system containingmultiple processors of the same type.

The memory 1006 and the persistent storage 1008 are examples of storagedevices 1016. A storage device is any piece of hardware capable ofstoring information, such as data, program code, and/or other suitableinformation on a temporary or permanent basis. The memory 1006 in theembodiments above may be, for example, a random access memory or anyother suitable volatile or non-volatile storage device. The persistentstorage 1008 may contain one or more components or devices. For example,the persistent storage 1008 may be a hard drive, a flash memory, anoptical disk, a rewritable magnetic tape, or any other type ofpersistent storage device. The media used by the persistent storage 1008also may be removable, such as when a removable hard drive is used asthe persistent storage 1008.

The communications unit 1010 provides for communications with othercomputer systems or devices. As an example, the communications unit 1010could include a network interface card or a wireless transceiver. Thecommunications unit 1010 may provide communications through physical orwireless communications links.

The input/output unit 1012 allows for input and output of data usingother devices that may be connected to the computing system 1000. Forexample, the input/output unit 1012 may provide a connection for userinput through a keyboard, a mouse, or another suitable input device. Theinput/output unit 1012 may also send output to a display, printer, orother suitable output device. The display 1014 provides a mechanism tovisually present information to a user.

Program code for an operating system, applications, or other programsmay be located in the storage devices 1016, which are in communicationwith the processor 1004 through the bus system 1002. In someembodiments, the program code is in a functional form on the persistentstorage 1008. These instructions may be loaded into the memory 1006 forprocessing by the processor 1004. The processes of the differentembodiments may be performed by the processor 1004 using computerimplemented instructions, which may be located in the memory 1006. Forexample, processor 1004 may perforin processes for one or more of themodules and/or devices described above.

In some embodiments, various functions described above are implementedor supported by a computer program product that is formed from computerreadable program code and that is embodied in a computer-readablemedium. Program code for the computer program product may be located ina functional form on a computer-readable storage device that could beselectively removable and may be loaded onto or transferred to thecomputing system 1000 for processing by the processor 1004. In someembodiments, the program code may also be downloaded over a network tothe persistent storage 1008 from another device or computer system foruse within the computing system 1000. For instance, program code storedin a computer-readable storage medium in a server computer system may bedownloaded over a network from the server to the computing system 1000.The computer system providing the program code may be a server computer,a client computer, or some other device capable of storing andtransmitting program code.

It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document. The terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases“associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivativesthereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with,contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, becommunicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximateto, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, have a relationshipto or with, or the like. The phrase “at least one of”, when used with alist of items, means that different combinations of one or more of thelisted items may be used, and only one item in the list may be needed.For example, “at least one of item A, item B, and item C” may include,without limitation, item A or item A and item B.

While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generallyassociated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodimentsand methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly,the above description of example embodiments does not define orconstrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterationsare also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure, as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for identifying information to display,the method comprising: identifying a location of a display; identifying,in response to a user input comprising an amount of time to the display,items or services available to a user of the display based on thelocation of the display and the amount of time; and displaying, on thedisplay, current information about the items or services available tothe user.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the amount of time is anamount of time available before a time associated with a scheduledtravel event of the user, and identifying the items or servicesavailable to the user comprises: identifying places that a user can walkto within the amount of time based on the location of the display; andidentifying the items or services available at the identified places. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein: the amount of time is an amount of timeavailable before a time associated with a scheduled travel event of theuser, and identifying the items or services available to the usercomprises: identifying a location of a waiting area associated with thescheduled travel event; and identifying the items or services that canbe delivered to or provided at the location of the waiting area withinthe amount of time.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of timeis an amount of time available before a time associated with a scheduledtravel event of the user, the method further comprising: identifying alocation of at least one place that provides the items or services;identifying a travel departure location associated with the scheduledtravel event; and determining, based on the location of the at least oneplace and the travel departure location, whether the user has enoughtime available before the time associated with the scheduled travelevent to travel to the location of the at least one place to receive adesired item or service.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising,in response to receiving a selection of the desired item or service andin response to determining that the user does not have enough time totravel to the location of the at least one place to receive the desireditem or service, requesting delivery of the desired item or service to awaiting area associated with the travel departure location.
 6. Themethod of claim 4, wherein: identifying the items or services availableto the user further comprises identifying an amount of time to consumethe desired item or service at the location, and determining whether theuser has enough time to travel to the location of the at least one placecomprises determining whether the user has enough time available beforethe time associated with the scheduled travel event to travel to thelocation of the at least one place and consume the desired item orservice at the location.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayis a display for a mobile device of the user.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the display is a stationary display device for an informationkiosk.
 9. An apparatus comprising: a display; and at least one processorconfigured to: identify a location of a display; identify, in responseto a user input comprising an amount of time to the display, items orservices available to a user of the display based on the location of thedisplay and the amount of time; and cause the display to display currentinformation about the items or services available to the user.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein: the amount of time is an amount of timeavailable before a time associated with a scheduled travel event of theuser, and to identify the items or services available to the user, theat least one processor is configured to: identify places that a user canwalk to within the amount of time based on the location of the display;and identify the items or services available at the identified places.11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: the amount of time is an amountof time available before a time associated with a scheduled travel eventof the user, and to identify the items or services available to theuser, the at least one processor is configured to: identify a locationof a waiting area associated with the scheduled travel event; andidentify the items or services that can be delivered to or provided atthe location of the waiting area within the amount of time.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein: the amount of time is an amount of timeavailable before a time associated with a scheduled travel event of theuser, and the at least one processor is configured to: identify alocation of at least one place that provides the items or services;identify a travel departure location associated with the scheduledtravel event; and determine, based on the location of the at least oneplace and the travel departure location, whether the user has enoughtime available before the time associated with the scheduled travelevent to travel to the location of the at least one place to receive adesired item or service.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the atleast one processor is configured to request, in response to receiving aselection of the desired item or service and in response to determiningthat the user does not have enough time to travel to the location of theat least one place to receive the desired item or service, delivery ofthe desired item or service to a waiting area associated with the traveldeparture location.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: to identifythe items or services available to the user, the at least one processoris configured to identify an amount of time to consume the desired itemor service at the location, and to determine whether the user has enoughtime to travel to the location of the at least one place, the at leastone processor is configured to determine whether the user has enoughtime available before the time associated with the scheduled travelevent to travel to the location of the at least one place and consumethe desired item or service at the location.
 15. The apparatus of claim9, wherein the display is a display for a mobile device of the user. 16.The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display is a stationary displaydevice for an information kiosk and the at least one processor isco-located with the display or located remotely from the display.
 17. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a computer program foridentifying information to display, the computer program comprisingcomputer-readable program code for: identifying a location of a display;identifying, in response to a user input comprising an amount of time tothe display, items or services available to a user of the display basedon the location of the display and the amount of time; and generating,for display on the display, current information about the items orservices available to the user.
 18. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 17, wherein: the amount of time is an amount of time availablebefore a time associated with a scheduled travel event of the user, andthe program code for identifying the items or services available to theuser comprises program code for: identifying places that a user can walkto within the amount of time based on the location of the display; andidentifying the items or services available at the identified places.19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein: the amount oftime is an amount of time available before a time associated with ascheduled travel event of the user, and the program code for identifyingthe items or services available to the user comprises program code for:identifying a location of a waiting area associated with the scheduledtravel event; and identifying the items or services that can bedelivered to or provided at the location of the waiting area within theamount of time.
 20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, whereinthe amount of time is an amount of time available before a timeassociated with a scheduled travel event of the user, thecomputer-readable medium further comprising program code for:identifying a location of at least one place that provides the items orservices; identifying a travel departure location associated with thescheduled travel event; and determining, based on the location of the atleast one place and the travel departure location, whether the user hasenough time available before the time associated with the scheduledtravel event to travel to the location of the at least one place toreceive a desired item or service.